Alright, fellow matcha aficionados, gather round because I’ve got a hot take on Firecakes Donuts’ matcha latte in River North. And by hot take, I mean it was literally too hot for my taste buds to handle. It’s safe to say that this latte lacks the luster needed to make it worthwhile matcha stop.
Now, I’ll start with the positives. The baristas at Firecakes are some of the nicest and friendliest people I’ve ever encountered in a coffee shop. They treated me like a long-lost friend and made me feel right at home. But as we all know, charming baristas can’t save a bad matcha latte.
The matcha powder they use comes from La Colombe coffee company, but unfortunately, it wasn’t very good. There actually wasn’t much matcha flavor to it. And what was detectable was way too bitter, likely because the temperature was scorching hot. I know that matcha lattes are traditionally served hot, but this was like drinking molten lava. My taste buds were singed, and I had to wait a good five minutes before I could even attempt to take another sip.
Now, before you start freaking out, let me clarify that I’m not a matcha snob who can only appreciate the highest quality ceremonial grade matcha. I’m perfectly content with a good old-fashioned culinary grade matcha, but the pale yellow color (and primarily the taste!) of this one just didn’t cut it for me.
But, there is a silver lining to this matcha latte debacle. The vegan gluten-free chocolate donut at Firecakes is absolutely delicious. If you’re looking for a tasty treat to pair with your coffee, I highly recommend it.
So, in conclusion, if you’re in the mood for a matcha latte, Firecakes Donuts might not be your best bet. But if you’re in the mood for a scrumptious vegan gluten-free donut (they have regular donuts, too) and some friendly conversation, it’s definitely worth a visit.
